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Sadeghi M, Sadeghifar M, Golshahi J, Khani A, Rouhani S, Shokri K, Rabiei K. Exposure to occupational air pollution and vascular endothelial dysfunction in workers of the steel industry in Iran. Toxicol Ind Health 2024; 40:425-431. [PMID: 38743474 DOI: 10.1177/07482337241254630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Air pollution is recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases; however, the precise underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the impact of occupational air pollution exposure on endothelial function in workers within the steel industry. Specifically, we examined male employees in the coke-making division of the Isfahan Steel Company in Iran, as well as those in administrative roles with no known history of cardiovascular risk. Data on age, body mass index, duration of employment, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, and lipid profile were collected. To assess endothelial function, flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was measured. The baseline brachial artery diameter was greater (mean difference [95% CI] = 0.068 mm [0.008 to 0.128]), while the FMD was lower (mean difference [95% CI] = -0.908 % [-1.740 to -0.075]) in the coke-making group than in the control group. After controlling for potential confounding variables, it was observed that working in the coke-making sector of the industry was associated with lower FMD (F = 3.954, p = .049). These findings indicated that occupational air pollution exposure among workers in the steel industry is linked to impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoumeh Sadeghi
- Cardiac Rehabilitation Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mostafa Sadeghifar
- Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Centre, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Jafar Golshahi
- Hypertension Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Azam Khani
- Heart Failure Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Sina Rouhani
- Cardiac Rehabilitation Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Kasra Shokri
- Chamran Cardiovascular Medical and Research Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Katayoun Rabiei
- Pediatric Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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2
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Tinkov AA, Skalny AV, Domingo JL, Samarghandian S, Kirichuk AA, Aschner M. A review of the epidemiological and laboratory evidence of the role of aluminum exposure in pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 242:117740. [PMID: 38007081 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
The objective of the present study was to review the epidemiological and laboratory evidence on the role of aluminum (Al) exposure in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Epidemiological data demonstrated an increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including hypertension and atherosclerosis in occupationally exposed subjects and hemodialysis patients. In addition, Al body burden was found to be elevated in patients with coronary heart disease, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Laboratory studies demonstrated that Al exposure induced significant ultrastructural damage in the heart, resulting in electrocardiogram alterations in association with cardiomyocyte necrosis and apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. In agreement with the epidemiological findings, laboratory data demonstrated dyslipidemia upon Al exposure, resulting from impaired hepatic lipid catabolism, as well as promotion of low-density lipoprotein oxidation. Al was also shown to inhibit paraoxonase 1 activity and to induce endothelial dysfunction and adhesion molecule expression, further promoting atherogenesis. The role of Al in hypertension was shown to be mediated by up-regulation of NADPH-oxidase, inhibition of nitric oxide bioavailability, and stimulation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. It has been also demonstrated that Al exposure targets cerebral vasculature, which may be considered a link between Al exposure and cerebrovascular diseases. Findings from other tissues lend support that ferroptosis, pyroptosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and modulation of gut microbiome and metabolome are involved in the development of CVD upon Al exposure. A better understanding of the role of the cardiovascular system as a target for Al toxicity will be useful for risk assessment and the development of treatment and prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey A Tinkov
- Center of Bioelementology and Human Ecology, IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, 119435, Russia; Laboratory of Ecobiomonitoring and Quality Control, Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl, 150003, Russia; Department of Human Ecology and Bioelementology, and Department of Medical Elementology, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, 117198, Russia.
| | - Anatoly V Skalny
- Center of Bioelementology and Human Ecology, IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, 119435, Russia; Department of Human Ecology and Bioelementology, and Department of Medical Elementology, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, 117198, Russia
| | - Jose L Domingo
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, 4320, Reus, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Saeed Samarghandian
- Healthy Ageing Research Centre, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, 9319774446, Iran
| | - Anatoly A Kirichuk
- Department of Human Ecology and Bioelementology, and Department of Medical Elementology, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, 117198, Russia
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
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Han F, Yu L, Mo X, Zhang L, Jia J, Dong J, Gu S. Measurement and control of containing-fluorine particulate matter emission during spent pot lining combustion detoxification process. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 447:130748. [PMID: 36669415 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The particle size distribution (PSD), composition, morphology, and formation mechanism of particulate matter (PM) released from the combustion of spent pot lining with and without CaSiO3 were investigated. The results showed that NaF and Na3AlF6 were found to be the main compositions of PM, and the particle size distribution of PM shows a bimodal distribution. CaSiO3 substantially inhibited the emission of PM by transforming NaF, Na3AlF6, and CaF2 into stable Ca4Si2O7F2. Moreover, CaSiO3 also limited the formation of high hazardous PM0.2 by providing SiO2, Al2O3, and NaAlSiO4 with high melting points as the core of promoting the growth of PM in particle size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Funian Han
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vanadium-Titanium Metallurgy and New Materials, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Liang Yu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China.
| | - Xinyun Mo
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vanadium-Titanium Metallurgy and New Materials, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Jiaqi Jia
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Jingmeng Dong
- College of Resources and Safety Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Shaopeng Gu
- College of Metallurgy and Energy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
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4
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Wissler A, Blevins KE, Buikstra JE. Missing data in bioarchaeology II: A test of ordinal and continuous data imputation. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2022; 179:349-364. [PMID: 36790608 PMCID: PMC9825894 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Previous research has shown that while missing data are common in bioarchaeological studies, they are seldom handled using statistically rigorous methods. The primary objective of this article is to evaluate the ability of imputation to manage missing data and encourage the use of advanced statistical methods in bioarchaeology and paleopathology. An overview of missing data management in biological anthropology is provided, followed by a test of imputation and deletion methods for handling missing data. MATERIALS AND METHODS Missing data were simulated on complete datasets of ordinal (n = 287) and continuous (n = 369) bioarchaeological data. Missing values were imputed using five imputation methods (mean, predictive mean matching, random forest, expectation maximization, and stochastic regression) and the success of each at obtaining the parameters of the original dataset compared with pairwise and listwise deletion. RESULTS In all instances, listwise deletion was least successful at approximating the original parameters. Imputation of continuous data was more effective than ordinal data. Overall, no one method performed best and the amount of missing data proved a stronger predictor of imputation success. DISCUSSION These findings support the use of imputation methods over deletion for handling missing bioarchaeological and paleopathology data, especially when the data are continuous. Whereas deletion methods reduce sample size, imputation maintains sample size, improving statistical power and preventing bias from being introduced into the dataset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Wissler
- Department of AnthropologyUniversity of South CarolinaColumbiaSouth CarolinaUSA
| | | | - Jane E. Buikstra
- Center for Bioarchaeological Research, School of Human Evolution and Social ChangeArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
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Zarnke A, Oliver C, Dorman S. McIntyre Powder and its potential contributions to cardiovascular disease risk: A literature review through the McIntyre Powder historical lens. Am J Ind Med 2022; 65:813-821. [PMID: 35863903 PMCID: PMC9541914 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
McIntyre Powder (MP) is a fine aluminum powder that was developed to prevent silicosis in gold and uranium mine workers in Ontario, Canada, and was administered to miners there from 1943 to 1979. Mine workers were exposed to high concentrations (35.6 mg/m3) of MP for approximately 10 min before every work shift. Contemporary physical and chemical characterizations of this powder have revealed that 12% of the powder is in the ultrafine particle size‐range (nanoparticles); and the remaining 88%, in the fine particulate size range (below 2.5 µm in diameter). The confluence of ultrafine particulate (UFP) composition and high airborne concentration of MP would be expected to overwhelm the defense mechanisms of the lung and increase the lung dust burden of the mine worker exposed to respirable dust in the mine. Published studies revealing associations between air pollution particulates and increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) shown a dose–response relationship with ambient PM2.5 and UFP and suggest that miners exposed to MP may also be at increased risk of CVD. The historical perspective of the use of MP in northern Ontario hard‐rock mines and its potential implications for CVD in exposed mine workers are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Zarnke
- Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.,The Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.,The Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH), Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christine Oliver
- The Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.,Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sandra Dorman
- Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.,The Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH), Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
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Li K, Yan J, Wang S, Liang X, Lin B, Tian L, Liu H, Liu X, Xi Z. Acute Exposure of Atmospheric Ultrafine Particles Induced Inflammation Response and Dysregulated TGFβ/Smads Signaling Pathway in ApoE -/- Mice. Cardiovasc Toxicol 2021; 21:410-421. [PMID: 33475962 DOI: 10.1007/s12012-021-09633-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Ultrafine particles (UFPs) referred to particular matters with aerosol diameter less than 100 nm. Because of the lightweight and small size, UFPs have become an occupational inhalation risk. The UFPs will be accumulated in the deep lung through inhalation, and then reach into all the organs via circulation system; some UFPs even stay in the brain. As previous study reported, UFPs exposure is usually associated with cardiovascular disease, such as atherosclerosis (AS). In our study, we tried to understand how acute UFP exposure caused the biological dysregulation in atherosclerosis. Acute exposure of UFPs were applied to mice for 6 consecutive days, mice were sacrificed after 3, 5, 7, and 10 days post-exposure. Aorta and serum were collected for histological and biomarkers analysis. Mice aortic adventitial fibroblasts (MAFs) were isolated from mice and used to further study to understand the mechanism of UFPs induced atherosclerosis. Compared to the untreated control, the inflammation responses and nitrate stress were observed after acute exposure of UFPs, with increased IL-6, MCP-1, p47phox, and 3-NT levels in the mice serum. Besides, upregulation of microRNAs: miR-301b-3p and Let-7c-1-3p, and their downstream target: Smad2, Smad3, and TGFβ1 were also observed in mouse aorta after acute exposure of UFPs. Similar results were identified in vitro as well. Acute exposure of UFPs induced the systematic nitrate stress and inflammation responses, along with the changes of vascular permeability. Dysregulated miRNAs and TGFβ/Smads signaling pathway indicated the higher risk of atherosclerosis/vasculature remodeling when exposed to UFPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Li
- Department of Toxicology, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, No. 1, Dali Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300050, China
| | - Jun Yan
- Department of Toxicology, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, No. 1, Dali Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300050, China
| | - Shumei Wang
- Binzhou Center Hospital, Yantai, 264000, China
| | - Xiaotian Liang
- Department of Toxicology, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, No. 1, Dali Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300050, China
- Binzhou Medical College, Yantai, 264000, China
| | - Bencheng Lin
- Department of Toxicology, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, No. 1, Dali Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300050, China
| | - Lei Tian
- Department of Toxicology, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, No. 1, Dali Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300050, China
| | - Huanliang Liu
- Department of Toxicology, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, No. 1, Dali Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300050, China
| | - Xiaohua Liu
- Department of Toxicology, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, No. 1, Dali Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300050, China.
| | - Zhuge Xi
- Department of Toxicology, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, No. 1, Dali Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300050, China.
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7
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Exposure to Ultrafine Particles in the Ferroalloy Industry Using a Logbook Method. NANOMATERIALS 2020; 10:nano10122546. [PMID: 33348887 PMCID: PMC7766956 DOI: 10.3390/nano10122546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background: It is difficult to assess workers’ exposure to ultrafine particles (UFP) due to the lack of personal sampling equipment available for this particle fraction. The logbook method has been proposed as a general method for exposure assessment. This method measures the time and concentration components of the time-weighted average concentration separately and could be suitable for investigation of UFP exposure. Objectives: In this study, we have assessed workers’ exposure to UFP in a ferrosilicon plant. The main tasks of the furnace workers were identified, and the logbook method was used in combination with stationary measurements of UFP taken as close to the identified task areas as possible. In order to verify the results, respirable particles were collected using stationary sampling in close proximity to the UFP measuring instrument, and personal full-shift sampling of respirable particles was performed simultaneously. Thus, exposure to respirable particles determined using the logbook method could be compared to the results of standard measurement. Methods: The particle number concentration of ultrafine particles was determined using a NanoScan SMPS. Respirable particle concentration and exposure were determined using a sampling train consisting of a pump, filter, filter cassettes, and SKC Cyclone for the respirable fraction. Attendance times for workers at each work location were registered via thorough observations made by the research team. Results: The logbook method for exposure estimation based on stationary sampling equipment made it possible to calculate UFP exposure for workers operating the furnaces at a ferrosilicon plant. The mid-size furnace and the large furnace were evaluated separately. The workers operating the largest furnace were exposed to 1.47 × 104 particles/cm3, while workers operating the mid-size furnace were exposed to 2.06 × 104 particles/cm3, with a mean of 1.74 × 104 particles/cm3. Substantial contributions from the casting area, ladle transport corridor, and both tapping areas were made. Exposure to respirable particles was 2.04 mg/m3 (logbook); 2.26 mg/m3 (personal sampling) for workers operating the large-sized furnace, 3.24 mg/m3 (logbook); 2.44 mg/m3 (personal sampling) for workers operating the medium-sized furnace, and 2.57 mg/m3 (logbook); 2.53 mg/m3(personal sampling) on average of all tappers. The average ratio of these two methods’ results was 1.02, which indicates that the logbook method could be used as a substitute for personal sampling when it is not possible to perform personal sampling, at least within this industry. Conclusions: The logbook method is a useful supplement for exposure assessment of UFP, able to identify the most polluted areas of the workplace and the contribution of different work tasks to the total exposure of workers, enabling companies to take action to reduce exposure.
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Characterizing Long-Term Trajectories of Work and Disability Leave: The Role of Occupational Exposures, Health, and Personal Demographics. J Occup Environ Med 2020; 61:936-943. [PMID: 31490897 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000001705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This article characterizes trajectories of work and disability leave across the tenure of a cohort of 49,595 employees in a large American manufacturing firm. METHODS We employ sequence and cluster analysis to group workers who share similar trajectories of work and disability leave. We then use multinomial logistic regression models to describe the demographic, health, and job-specific correlates of these trajectories. RESULTS All workers were clustered into one of eight trajectories. Female workers (RR 1.3 to 2.1), those experiencing musculoskeletal disease (RR 1.3 to 1.5), and those whose jobs entailed exposure to high levels of air pollution (total particulate matter; RR 1.9 to 2.4) were more likely to experience at least one disability episode. CONCLUSIONS These trajectories and their correlates provide insight into disability processes and their relationship to demographic characteristics, health, and working conditions of employees.
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Elser H, Neophytou AM, Tribett E, Galusha D, Modrek S, Noth EM, Meausoone V, Eisen EA, Cantley LF, Cullen MR. Cohort Profile: The American Manufacturing Cohort (AMC) study. Int J Epidemiol 2020; 48:1412-1422j. [PMID: 31220278 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyz059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Holly Elser
- Division of Epidemiology, UC Berkeley School of Public Health, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Center for Population Health Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Andreas M Neophytou
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, UC Berkeley School of Public Health, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Erika Tribett
- Center for Population Health Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Deron Galusha
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sepideh Modrek
- Department of Economics, San Francisco State University, College of Business, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Noth
- Center for Population Health Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Valerie Meausoone
- Center for Population Health Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ellen A Eisen
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, UC Berkeley School of Public Health, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Linda F Cantley
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Mark R Cullen
- Center for Population Health Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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10
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Martinez CS, Piagette JT, Escobar AG, Martín Á, Palacios R, Peçanha FM, Vassallo DV, Exley C, Alonso MJ, Salaices M, Miguel M, Wiggers GA. Egg White Hydrolysate: A new putative agent to prevent vascular dysfunction in rats following long-term exposure to aluminum. Food Chem Toxicol 2019; 133:110799. [PMID: 31493463 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2019.110799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Aluminum (Al) is toxic for humans and animals. Here, we have tested the potential for Egg White Hydrolysate (EWH) to protect against cardiovascular changes in rats exposed to both high and low dietary levels of Al. Indeed, EWH has been previously shown to improve cardio metabolic dysfunctions induced by chronic exposure to heavy metals. Male Wistar rats received orally: Group 1) Low aluminum level (AlCl3 at a dose of 8.3 mg/kg b.w. during 60 days) with or without EWH treatment (1 g/kg/day); Group 2) High aluminum level (AlCl3 at a dose of 100 mg/kg b.w. during 42 days) with or without EWH treatment. After Al treatment, rats co-treated with EWH did not show vascular dysfunction or increased blood pressure as was observed in non EWH-cotreated animals. Indeed, co-treatment with EWH prevented the following effects observed in both aorta and mesenteric arteries: the increased vascular responses to phenylephrine (Phe), the decreased ACh-induced relaxation, the reduction on endothelial modulation of vasoconstrictor responses and the nitric oxide bioavailability, as well as the increased reactive oxygen species production from NAD(P)H oxidase. Altogether, our results suggest that EWH could be used as a protective agent against the harmful vascular effects after long term exposure to Al.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Silveira Martinez
- Cardiovascular Physiology Research Group, Universidade Federal do Pampa, BR 472 - Km 592 - PO box 118, 97500-970, Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
| | - Janaina Trindade Piagette
- Cardiovascular Physiology Research Group, Universidade Federal do Pampa, BR 472 - Km 592 - PO box 118, 97500-970, Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Alyne Gourlart Escobar
- Cardiovascular Physiology Research Group, Universidade Federal do Pampa, BR 472 - Km 592 - PO box 118, 97500-970, Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ángela Martín
- Department of Ciencias Básicas de la Salud, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Avda. de Atenas s/n, Alcorcón, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Hospital La Paz, Spain and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Roberto Palacios
- Department of Ciencias Básicas de la Salud, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Avda. de Atenas s/n, Alcorcón, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Hospital La Paz, Spain and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Franck Maciel Peçanha
- Cardiovascular Physiology Research Group, Universidade Federal do Pampa, BR 472 - Km 592 - PO box 118, 97500-970, Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Dalton Valentim Vassallo
- Departments of Physiological Sciences, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo and School of Medicine of Santa Casa de Misericórdia (EMESCAM), Av. Marechal Campos 1468, 29040-090, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Christopher Exley
- The Birchall Centre, Lennard-Jones Laboratories, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
| | - María Jesús Alonso
- Department of Ciencias Básicas de la Salud, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Avda. de Atenas s/n, Alcorcón, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Hospital La Paz, Spain and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Salaices
- Instituto de Investigación Hospital La Paz, Spain and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Madrid, Spain; Department of Pharmacology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/ Arzobispo Morcillo 4, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Miguel
- Instituto de Investigación, Hospital La Paz, Spain; Bioactivity and Food Analysis Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación, Nicolás Cabrera, 9, Campus Universitario de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Giulia Alessandra Wiggers
- Cardiovascular Physiology Research Group, Universidade Federal do Pampa, BR 472 - Km 592 - PO box 118, 97500-970, Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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11
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Huynh T, Ramachandran G, Quick H, Hwang J, Raynor PC, Alexander BH, Mandel JH. Ambient Fine Aerosol Concentrations in Multiple Metrics in Taconite Mining Operations. Ann Work Expo Health 2019; 63:77-90. [PMID: 30351393 DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxy086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies in environmental epidemiology and of occupational cohorts have implicated the effects of fine particulates with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Motivated by this evidence, we conducted an ambient air monitoring campaign to characterize fine aerosol concentrations around various taconite ore processes in six taconite mines in northeastern Minnesota. The ore processes were first categorized into 16 broad work areas/buildings. We then took air samples at 91 fixed locations using an array of direct-reading instruments to obtain measurements of mass (PM2.5 or particles with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 µm, and respirable particulate matter or RPM), alveolar-deposited surface area (ADSA), and particle number (PN) concentrations. At each location, a respirable gravimetric pump (which was used for calibration purposes) and the instruments measured the ambient dust level for 4 h producing ~240 1-min averaging real-time measurements. To analyze these data, we fit a Bayesian hierarchical model with an autoregressive order 1 correlation structure to estimate pooled concentrations for the 16 work areas/buildings while accounting for temporal correlation. PM2.5 and RPM average ambient concentrations were highly correlated to each other (Pearson's correlation = 0.98), followed by ADSA and PN correlation (R = 0.77). Office and control room areas were found to have the lowest concentrations in all four metrics when compared to other groups. Distinguishing between concentration levels among the remaining groups was more difficult due to the high uncertainty associated with the geometric mean estimates. The geometric standard deviation within location (GSDWL) generally ranged from 1 to 3 for all exposure metrics, except for a few locations that may have had changes in the work activities that generated the observed peaks and variability during the sampling duration. The geometric standard deviation between locations estimates were generally higher than GSDWL, which may indicate larger variability in the processes/activities between locations within each broad work area/building. Future work may look into whether it is feasible to use area measurements for epidemiological investigation and use personal measurements (if available) to validate such approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tran Huynh
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gurumurthy Ramachandran
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Harrison Quick
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jooyeon Hwang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Peter C Raynor
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Bruce H Alexander
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jeffrey H Mandel
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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12
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Bertrand RA, Huang Z. Association between audiometric patterns and probabilities of cardiovascular diseases. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol 2019; 3:478-485. [PMID: 30599033 PMCID: PMC6302715 DOI: 10.1002/lio2.206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives The aim of this study was to analyze the progression of the audiometric pattern of serial screening tests in companies with hearing conservation program (HCP) to clinical audiometric tests to identify individuals more susceptible to develop cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The procedure is based on the analysis of various audiometric patterns that have been demonstrated to have a statistically significant relation to certain CVDs. Identifying these individuals, based on pattern progression of hearing loss, could result in earlier detection to prevent disease or decrease its morbidity. Study design Using the data from the clinical and screening audiograms, pattern analysis was performed and statistical analysis using Fisher's exact test, odds ratios and P values were used to calculate the confidence intervals. Methods The analysis was based on potential risk factors related to CVD in 29 cohorts of 10,105 subjects. Of these, a total of 704 subjects also had clinical audiometric tests and examination by an ENT to verify the exactitude of the screening test questionnaire and pattern relation with the clinical audiogram. Results A first analysis was made on 704 subjects who had clinical evaluation and clinical audiometric tests showed results comparable to those of Friedland. A correlation between the questionnaire of the clinical and the self‐reporting screening tests questionnaires was performed and showed a correlation between the following risk factors: diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and smoking. Analysis of the progression of audiometric patterns suggested a relationship with the predictive probabilities of developing CVDs. Conclusion Progression toward low‐frequency hearing loss patterns provides early identification of patients whose audiometric pattern progression suggests increased probability of developing CVDs. The treating physician, by prescribing further investigations, could potentially prevent or reduce the morbidity of these diseases. Level of Evidence III
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Ferguson JM, Costello S, Neophytou AM, Balmes JR, Bradshaw PT, Cullen MR, Eisen EA. Night and rotational work exposure within the last 12 months and risk of incident hypertension. Scand J Work Environ Health 2018; 45:256-266. [PMID: 30614503 DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.3788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Shift work, such as alternating day and nights, causes chronobiologic disruptions which may cause an increase in hypertension risk. However, the relative contributions of the components of shift work ‒ such as shift type (eg, night work) and rotations (ie, switching of shift times; day to night) ‒ on this association are not clear. To address this question, we constructed novel definitions of night work and rotational work and assessed their associations with risk of incident hypertension. Methods A cohort of 2151 workers at eight aluminum manufacturing facilities previously studied for cardiovascular disease was followed from 2003 through 2013 for incident hypertension, as defined by ICD-9 insurance claims codes. Detailed time-registry data was used to classify each worker's history of rotational and night work. The associations between recent rotational work and night work in the last 12 months and incident hypertension were estimated using adjusted Cox proportional hazards models. Results Elevated hazard ratios (HR) were observed for all levels of recent night work (>0-5, >5-50, >50-95, >95-100%) compared with non-night workers, and among all levels of rotational work (<1, 1-10, >10-20, >20-30, and >30%) compared with those working <1% rotational work. In models for considering the combination of night and rotational work, workers with mostly night work and frequent rotations (≥50% night and ≥10% rotation) had the highest risk of hypertension compared to non-night workers [HR 4.00, 95% confidence interval (CI )1.69-9.52]. Conclusions Our results suggest recent night and rotational work may both be associated with higher rates of incident hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline M Ferguson
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-7360 USA.
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Iqbal G, Zada W, Mannan A, Ahmed T. Elevated heavy metals levels in cognitively impaired patients from Pakistan. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2018; 60:100-109. [PMID: 29684799 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2018.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The deficit in the visuospatial skills, thinking, learning and memory is termed as cognitive impairment. Human exposure to heavy metals is a potential risk factor for developing cognitive impairment. This study aimed to investigate the possible association between the concentration of heavy metals and the extent of cognitive impairment. Blood samples were subjected to microwave assisted acid digestion and evaluated for metals levels using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. We measured the levels of Cu, Pb, Al, Zn, Cd and Mn in 183 patients diagnosed with cognitive impairment; mild (n = 72), moderate (n = 86) and severe (n = 25) and compared them to age-matched healthy controls (n = 90). Results showed that all the aforementioned elements were significantly higher in cognitively impaired patients and increasing concentration was strongly correlated with increase in severity of the disease. The correlation study has shown that among the studied metals, Al and Cu are strongly associated with the cognitive impairment. This suggests the need for decrease in metal exposure to humans from environment, food and industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghazala Iqbal
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Sector H-12, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
| | - Wahid Zada
- Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad, 22060, K.P.K, Pakistan
| | - Abdul Mannan
- Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad, 22060, K.P.K, Pakistan
| | - Touqeer Ahmed
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Sector H-12, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan.
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Rehkopf DH, Modrek S, Cantley LF, Cullen MR. Social, Psychological, And Physical Aspects Of The Work Environment Could Contribute To Hypertension Prevalence. Health Aff (Millwood) 2018; 36:258-265. [PMID: 28167714 DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.1186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Studies on the physical and social characteristics of the workplace have begun to provide evidence for the role of specific workplace factors on health. However, the overall contribution of the workplace to health has not been considered. Estimates of the influences on health across domains of the work environment are a critical first step toward understanding what level of priority the workplace should take as the target for public policies to improve health. The influences or contribution of these domains on health in the work environment are particularly useful to study since they are potentially modifiable through changes in policies and environment. Our analysis used detailed data from blue-collar industrial workers at two dozen Alcoa plants. It includes work environmental measures of psychological hazards, physical hazards, and the workplace social environment, to estimate the overall importance of the workplace environment for hypertension. Our findings suggest that social, psychological, and physical aspects of the work environment could contribute to a substantial proportion of hypertension prevalence. These attributes of the workplace could thus be a useful target for improving workforce health.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H Rehkopf
- David H. Rehkopf is an assistant professor in the Division of General Medicine Disciplines at Stanford Medicine, Stanford University, in California
| | - Sepideh Modrek
- Sepideh Modrek is an assistant professor in the Department of Economics, College of Business, at San Francisco State University, in California
| | - Linda F Cantley
- Linda F. Cantley is a lecturer at the Yale University School of Medicine, in New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Mark R Cullen
- Mark R. Cullen is a professor in the Division of General Medicine Disciplines, Stanford Medicine, Stanford University
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Martinez CS, Piagette JT, Escobar AG, Martín Á, Palacios R, Peçanha FM, Vassallo DV, Exley C, Alonso MJ, Miguel M, Salaices M, Wiggers GA. Aluminum exposure at human dietary levels promotes vascular dysfunction and increases blood pressure in rats: A concerted action of NAD(P)H oxidase and COX-2. Toxicology 2017; 390:10-21. [PMID: 28826906 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2017.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Aluminum (Al) is a non-essential metal and a significant environmental contaminant and is associated with a number of human diseases including cardiovascular disease. We investigated the effects of Al exposure at doses similar to human dietary levels on the cardiovascular system over a 60day period. Wistar male rats were divided into two major groups and received orally: 1) Low aluminum level - rats were subdivided and treated for 60days as follows: a) Untreated - ultrapure water; b) AlCl3 at a dose of 8.3mg/kg bw for 60days, representing human Al exposure by diet; and 2) High aluminum level - rats were subdivided and treated for 42days as follows: C) Untreated - ultrapure water; d) AlCl3 at 100mg/kg bw for 42days, representing a high level of human exposure to Al. Effects on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and vascular function of aortic and mesenteric resistance arteries (MRA) were studied. Endothelium and smooth muscle integrity were evaluated by concentration-response curves to acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside. Vasoconstrictor responses to phenylephrine (Phe) in the presence and absence of endothelium and in the presence of the NOS inhibitor L-NAME, the potassium channels blocker TEA, the NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor apocynin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), the non-selective COX inhibitor indomethacin and the selective COX-2 inhibitor NS 398 were analyzed. Vascular reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity, were measured. The mRNA expressions of eNOS, NAD(P)H oxidase 1 and 2, SOD1, COX-2 and thromboxane A2 receptor (TXA-2 R) were also investigated. Al exposure at human dietary levels impaired the cardiovascular system and these effects were almost the same as Al exposure at much higher levels. Al increased SBP, decreased ACh-induced relaxation, increased response to Phe, decreased endothelial modulation of vasoconstrictor responses, the bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO), the involvement of potassium channels on vascular responses, as well as increased ROS production from NAD(P)H oxidase and contractile prostanoids mainly from COX-2 in both aorta and mesenteric arteries. Al exposure increased vascular ROS production and lipid peroxidation as well as altered the antioxidant status in aorta and MRA. Al decreased vascular eNOS and SOD1 mRNA levels and increased the NAD(P)H oxidase 1, COX-2 and TXA-2 R mRNA levels. Our results point to an excess of ROS mainly from NAD(P)H oxidase after Al exposure and the increased vascular prostanoids from COX-2 acting in concert to decrease NO bioavailability, thus inducing vascular dysfunction and increasing blood pressure. Therefore, 60-day chronic exposure to Al, which reflects common human dietary Al intake, appears to pose a risk for the cardiovascular system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Silveira Martinez
- Postgraduate Program in Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Pampa, BR 472 - Km 592 - PO box 118, Zip Code: 97500-970, Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Janaina Trindade Piagette
- Postgraduate Program in Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Pampa, BR 472 - Km 592 - PO box 118, Zip Code: 97500-970, Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Alyne Gourlart Escobar
- Postgraduate Program in Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Pampa, BR 472 - Km 592 - PO box 118, Zip Code: 97500-970, Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ángela Martín
- Department of Ciencias Básicas de la Salud, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Avda. de Atenas s/n, Alcorcón, Spain; Ciber de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Spain
| | - Roberto Palacios
- Department of Ciencias Básicas de la Salud, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Avda. de Atenas s/n, Alcorcón, Spain; Ciber de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Spain
| | - Franck Maciel Peçanha
- Postgraduate Program in Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Pampa, BR 472 - Km 592 - PO box 118, Zip Code: 97500-970, Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Dalton Valentim Vassallo
- Departments of Physiological Sciences, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo and School of Medicine of Santa Casa de Misericórdia (EMESCAM), Av. Marechal Campos 1468, Zip Code: 29040-090, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Christopher Exley
- The Birchall Centre, Lennard-Jones Laboratories, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK
| | - María Jesús Alonso
- Department of Ciencias Básicas de la Salud, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Avda. de Atenas s/n, Alcorcón, Spain; Ciber de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Spain
| | - Marta Miguel
- Bioactivity and Food Analysis Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación, Nicolás Cabrera, 9, Campus Universitario de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Salaices
- Ciber de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Spain; Department of Pharmacology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Hospital La Paz (IdiPaz), C/ Arzobispo Morcillo 4, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Giulia Alessandra Wiggers
- Postgraduate Program in Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Pampa, BR 472 - Km 592 - PO box 118, Zip Code: 97500-970, Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
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Viitanen AK, Uuksulainen S, Koivisto AJ, Hämeri K, Kauppinen T. Workplace Measurements of Ultrafine Particles—A Literature Review. Ann Work Expo Health 2017; 61:749-758. [DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxx049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
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Shrestha D, Liu S, Hammond SK, LaValley MP, Weiner DE, Eisen EA, Applebaum KM. Risk of renal cell carcinoma following exposure to metalworking fluids among autoworkers. Occup Environ Med 2016; 73:656-62. [PMID: 27484955 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2016-103769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Metalworking fluids (MWF), used to cool and lubricate metal in occupational settings, are linked to several cancers but data on kidney cancer are limited. We examine how MWF influence the rate of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in a large prospective study. METHODS A cohort of Michigan autoworkers consisting of 33 421 individuals was followed from 1985 to 2009. The cohort was linked to the Michigan Cancer Registry to identify new cases of RCC. We analysed RCC in relation to cumulative exposure to each specific type of MWF (straight, soluble and synthetic) and all 3 types pooled into a single MWF variable, with a 15-year lag. Cox proportional hazards regression with splines were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), controlling for age, gender, race, calendar year, year hired, time since hire, plant and other MWF types. RESULTS There were 135 incident cases. A linear increase in the log-HR was observed for RCC with increasing cumulative exposure to each MWF type and total MWF exposure. At the mean of total MWF exposure (18.80 mg/m(3)-year), the estimated HR was 1.11 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.19). CONCLUSIONS Our results provide evidence for a dose-dependent association between MWF exposure and RCC. The influence of components of oil-based and water-based MWF needs further examination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepika Shrestha
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, George Washington University, Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Sa Liu
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - S Katharine Hammond
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Michael P LaValley
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel E Weiner
- Division of Nephrology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ellen A Eisen
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Katie M Applebaum
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, George Washington University, Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC, USA
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Occupational Exposure to PM2.5 and Incidence of Ischemic Heart Disease: Longitudinal Targeted Minimum Loss-based Estimation. Epidemiology 2016; 26:806-14. [PMID: 26079662 PMCID: PMC4741411 DOI: 10.1097/ede.0000000000000329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We investigated the incidence of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in relation to accumulated exposure to particulate matter (PM) in a cohort of aluminum workers. We adjusted for time varying confounding characteristic of the healthy worker survivor effect, using a recently introduced method for the estimation of causal target parameters. METHODS Applying longitudinal targeted minimum loss-based estimation, we estimated the difference in marginal cumulative risk of IHD in the cohort comparing counterfactual outcomes if always exposed above to always exposed below a PM2.5 exposure cut-off. Analyses were stratified by sub-cohort employed in either smelters or fabrication facilities. We selected two exposure cut-offs a priori, at the median and 10th percentile in each sub-cohort. RESULTS In smelters, the estimated IHD risk difference after 15 years of accumulating PM2.5 exposure during follow-up was 2.9% (0.6%, 5.1%) using the 10th percentile cut-off of 0.10 mg/m. For fabrication workers, the difference was 2.5% (0.8%, 4.1%) at the 10th percentile of 0.06 mg/m. Using the median exposure cut-off, results were similar in direction but smaller in size. We present marginal incidence curves describing the cumulative risk of IHD over the course of follow-up for each sub-cohort under each intervention regimen. CONCLUSIONS The accumulation of exposure to PM2.5 appears to result in higher risks of IHD in both aluminum smelter and fabrication workers. This represents the first longitudinal application of targeted minimum loss-based estimation, a method for generating doubly robust semi-parametric efficient substitution estimators of causal parameters, in the fields of occupational and environmental epidemiology.
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20
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Neophytou AM, Noth EM, Liu S, Costello S, Hammond SK, Cullen MR, Eisen EA. Ischemic Heart Disease Incidence in Relation to Fine versus Total Particulate Matter Exposure in a U.S. Aluminum Industry Cohort. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0156613. [PMID: 27249060 PMCID: PMC4889104 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2015] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Ischemic heart disease (IHD) has been linked to exposures to airborne particles with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm (PM2.5) in the ambient environment and in occupational settings. Routine industrial exposure monitoring, however, has traditionally focused on total particulate matter (TPM). To assess potential benefits of PM2.5 monitoring, we compared the exposure-response relationships between both PM2.5 and TPM and incidence of IHD in a cohort of active aluminum industry workers. To account for the presence of time varying confounding by health status we applied marginal structural Cox models in a cohort followed with medical claims data for IHD incidence from 1998 to 2012. Analyses were stratified by work process into smelters (n = 6,579) and fabrication (n = 7,432). Binary exposure was defined by the 10th-percentile cut-off from the respective TPM and PM2.5 exposure distributions for each work process. Hazard Ratios (HR) comparing always exposed above the exposure cut-off to always exposed below the cut-off were higher for PM2.5, with HRs of 1.70 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11–2.60) and 1.48 (95% CI: 1.02–2.13) in smelters and fabrication, respectively. For TPM, the HRs were 1.25 (95% CI: 0.89–1.77) and 1.25 (95% CI: 0.88–1.77) for smelters and fabrication respectively. Although TPM and PM2.5 were highly correlated in this work environment, results indicate that, consistent with biologic plausibility, PM2.5 is a stronger predictor of IHD risk than TPM. Cardiovascular risk management in the aluminum industry, and other similar work environments, could be better guided by exposure surveillance programs monitoring PM2.5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas M. Neophytou
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Elizabeth M. Noth
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Sa Liu
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Sadie Costello
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - S. Katharine Hammond
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Mark R. Cullen
- Division of General Medical Disciplines, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Ellen A. Eisen
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
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Golshahi J, Sadeghi M, Saqira M, Zavar R, Sadeghifar M, Roohafza H. Exposure to occupational air pollution and cardiac function in workers of the Esfahan Steel Industry, Iran. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 23:11759-11765. [PMID: 26946505 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-6334-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2015] [Accepted: 02/21/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution is recognized as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We investigated association of exposure to occupational air pollution and cardiac function in the workers of the steel industry. Fifty male workers of the agglomeration and coke-making parts of the Esfahan Steel Company were randomly selected (n = 50). Workers in the administrative parts were studied as controls (n = 50). Those with known history of hypertension, dyslipidemia, or diabetes, and active smokers were not included. Data of age, body mass index, employment duration, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, and lipid profile were gathered. Echocardiography was performed to evaluate cardiac function. Left ventricular ejection fraction was lower in workers of the agglomeration/coke-making parts than in controls (mean difference = 5 to 5.5 %, P < 0.001). Mild right ventricular dilatation and grade I pulmonary hypertension were present in three (12 %) workers of the coke-making part, but none of the controls (P = 0.010). According to these results, occupational air pollution exposure in workers of the steel industry is associated with left heart systolic dysfunction. Possible right heart insults due to air pollution exposure warrant further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jafar Golshahi
- Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Centre, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Sadeghi
- Cardiac Rehabilitation Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Saqira
- Hypertension Research Centre, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Reihaneh Zavar
- Heart Failure Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mostafa Sadeghifar
- Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Centre, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Roohafza
- Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Centre, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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Costello S, Neophytou AM, Brown DM, Noth EM, Hammond SK, Cullen MR, Eisen EA. Incident Ischemic Heart Disease After Long-Term Occupational Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter: Accounting for 2 Forms of Survivor Bias. Am J Epidemiol 2016; 183:861-8. [PMID: 27033425 PMCID: PMC4851988 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwv218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the heart disease risks associated with occupational, rather than traffic-related, exposure to particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 µm or less (PM2.5). We examined long-term exposure to PM2.5 in cohorts of aluminum smelters and fabrication workers in the United States who were followed for incident ischemic heart disease from 1998 to 2012, and we addressed 2 forms of survivor bias. Left truncation bias was addressed by restricting analyses to the subcohort hired after the start of follow up. Healthy worker survivor bias, which is characterized by time-varying confounding that is affected by prior exposure, was documented only in the smelters and required the use of marginal structural Cox models. When comparing always-exposed participants above the 10th percentile of annual exposure with those below, the hazard ratios were 1.67 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11, 2.52) and 3.95 (95% CI: 0.87, 18.00) in the full and restricted subcohorts of smelter workers, respectively. In the fabrication stratum, hazard ratios based on conditional Cox models were 0.98 (95% CI: 0.94, 1.02) and 1.17 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.37) per 1 mg/m(3)-year in the full and restricted subcohorts, respectively. Long-term exposure to occupational PM2.5 was associated with a higher risk of ischemic heart disease among aluminum manufacturing workers, particularly in smelters, after adjustment for survivor bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadie Costello
- Correspondence to Dr. Sadie Costello, Environmental Health Science, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 50 University Hall #7360, Berkeley, CA 94720 (e-mail: )
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Picciotto S, Ljungman PL, Eisen EA. Straight Metalworking Fluids and All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality Analyzed by Using G-Estimation of an Accelerated Failure Time Model With Quantitative Exposure: Methods and Interpretations. Am J Epidemiol 2016; 183:680-8. [PMID: 26968943 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwv232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Straight metalworking fluids have been linked to cardiovascular mortality in analyses using binary exposure metrics, accounting for healthy worker survivor bias by using g-estimation of accelerated failure time models. A cohort of 38,666 Michigan autoworkers was followed (1941-1994) for mortality from all causes and ischemic heart disease. The structural model chosen here, using continuous exposure, assumes that increasing exposure from 0 to 1 mg/m(3) in any single year would decrease survival time by a fixed amount. Under that assumption, banning the fluids would have saved an estimated total of 8,468 (slope-based 95% confidence interval: 2,262, 28,563) person-years of life in this cohort. On average, 3.04 (slope-based 95% confidence interval: 0.02, 25.98) years of life could have been saved for each exposed worker who died from ischemic heart disease. Estimates were sensitive to both model specification for predicting exposure (multinomial or logistic regression) and characterization of exposure as binary or continuous in the structural model. Our results provide evidence supporting the hypothesis of a detrimental relationship between straight metalworking fluids and mortality, particularly from ischemic heart disease, as well as an instructive example of the challenges in obtaining and interpreting results from accelerated failure time models using a continuous exposure in the presence of competing risks.
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Meta-Analysis of Cardiac Mortality in Three Cohorts of Carbon Black Production Workers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2016; 13:ijerph13030302. [PMID: 27005647 PMCID: PMC4808965 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13030302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Revised: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 02/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have demonstrated associations between airborne environmental particle exposure and cardiac disease and mortality; however, few have examined such effects from poorly soluble particles of low toxicity such as manufactured carbon black (CB) particles in the work place. We combined standardised mortality ratio (SMR) and Cox proportional hazards results from cohort studies of US, UK and German CB production workers. Under a common protocol, we analysed mortality from all causes, heart disease (HD), ischemic heart disease (IHD) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Fixed and random effects (RE) meta-regression models were fit for employment duration, and for overall cumulative and lugged quantitative CB exposure estimates. Full cohort meta-SMRs (RE) were 1.01 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79–1.29) for HD; 1.02 (95% CI 0.80–1.30) for IHD, and 1.08 (95% CI 0.74–1.59) for AMI mortality. For all three outcomes, meta-SMRs were heterogeneous, increased with time since first and time since last exposure, and peaked after 25–29 or 10–14 years, respectively. Meta-Cox coefficients showed no association with lugged duration of exposure. A small but imprecise increased AMI mortality risk was suggested for cumulative exposure (RE-hazards ratio (HR) = 1.10 per 100 mg/m3-years; 95% CI 0.92–1.31), but not for lugged exposures. Our results do not demonstrate that airborne CB exposure increases all-cause or cardiac disease mortality.
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Berlinger B, Bugge MD, Ulvestad B, Kjuus H, Kandler K, Ellingsen DG. Particle size distribution of workplace aerosols in manganese alloy smelters applying a personal sampling strategy. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2015; 17:2066-2073. [PMID: 26498986 DOI: 10.1039/c5em00396b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Air samples were collected by personal sampling with five stage Sioutas cascade impactors and respirable cyclones in parallel among tappers and crane operators in two manganese (Mn) alloy smelters in Norway to investigate PM fractions. The mass concentrations of PM collected by using the impactors and the respirable cyclones were critically evaluated by comparing the results of the parallel measurements. The geometric mean (GM) mass concentrations of the respirable fraction and the <10 μm PM fraction were 0.18 and 0.39 mg m(-3), respectively. Particle size distributions were determined using the impactor data in the range from 0 to 10 μm and by stationary measurements by using a scanning mobility particle sizer in the range from 10 to 487 nm. On average 50% of the particulate mass in the Mn alloy smelters was in the range from 2.5 to 10 μm, while the rest was distributed between the lower stages of the impactors. On average 15% of the particulate mass was found in the <0.25 μm PM fraction. The comparisons of the different PM fraction mass concentrations related to different work tasks or different workplaces, showed in many cases statistically significant differences, however, the particle size distribution of PM in the fraction <10 μm d(ae) was independent of the plant, furnace or work task.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Berlinger
- Dept. of Chemical and Biological Working Environment, National Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 8149 Dep. N-0033, Oslo, Norway.
| | - M D Bugge
- Dept. of Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology, National Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 8149 Dep. N-0033, Oslo, Norway
| | - B Ulvestad
- Dept. of Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology, National Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 8149 Dep. N-0033, Oslo, Norway
| | - H Kjuus
- Dept. of Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology, National Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 8149 Dep. N-0033, Oslo, Norway
| | - K Kandler
- Technical University Darmstadt, Institute of Applied Geosciences Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstr. 9, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - D G Ellingsen
- Dept. of Chemical and Biological Working Environment, National Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 8149 Dep. N-0033, Oslo, Norway.
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Rehkopf DH, Eisen EA, Modrek S, Mokyr Horner E, Goldstein B, Costello S, Cantley LF, Slade MD, Cullen MR. Early-Life State-of-Residence Characteristics and Later Life Hypertension, Diabetes, and Ischemic Heart Disease. Am J Public Health 2015; 105:1689-95. [PMID: 26066927 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2014.302547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We examined how state characteristics in early life are associated with individual chronic disease later in life. METHODS We assessed early-life state of residence using the first 3 digits of social security numbers from blue- and white-collar workers from a US manufacturing company. Longitudinal data were available from 1997 to 2012, with 305 936 person-years of observation. Disease was assessed using medical claims. We modeled associations using pooled logistic regression with inverse probability of censoring weights. RESULTS We found small but statistically significant associations between early-state-of-residence characteristics and later life hypertension, diabetes, and ischemic heart disease. The most consistent associations were with income inequality, percentage non-White, and education. These associations were similar after statistically controlling for individual socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and current state characteristics. CONCLUSIONS Characteristics of the state in which an individual lives early in life are associated with prevalence of chronic disease later in life, with a strength of association equivalent to genetic associations found for these same health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H Rehkopf
- At the time of the study, David H. Rehkopf, Sepideh Modrek, Elizabeth Mokyr Horner, Benjamin Goldstein, and Mark R. Cullen were with the Division of General Medical Disciplines, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA. Ellen A. Eisen and Sadie Costello are with the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Linda F. Cantley and Martin D. Slade are with the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | - Ellen A Eisen
- At the time of the study, David H. Rehkopf, Sepideh Modrek, Elizabeth Mokyr Horner, Benjamin Goldstein, and Mark R. Cullen were with the Division of General Medical Disciplines, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA. Ellen A. Eisen and Sadie Costello are with the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Linda F. Cantley and Martin D. Slade are with the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | - Sepideh Modrek
- At the time of the study, David H. Rehkopf, Sepideh Modrek, Elizabeth Mokyr Horner, Benjamin Goldstein, and Mark R. Cullen were with the Division of General Medical Disciplines, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA. Ellen A. Eisen and Sadie Costello are with the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Linda F. Cantley and Martin D. Slade are with the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | - Elizabeth Mokyr Horner
- At the time of the study, David H. Rehkopf, Sepideh Modrek, Elizabeth Mokyr Horner, Benjamin Goldstein, and Mark R. Cullen were with the Division of General Medical Disciplines, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA. Ellen A. Eisen and Sadie Costello are with the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Linda F. Cantley and Martin D. Slade are with the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | - Benjamin Goldstein
- At the time of the study, David H. Rehkopf, Sepideh Modrek, Elizabeth Mokyr Horner, Benjamin Goldstein, and Mark R. Cullen were with the Division of General Medical Disciplines, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA. Ellen A. Eisen and Sadie Costello are with the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Linda F. Cantley and Martin D. Slade are with the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | - Sadie Costello
- At the time of the study, David H. Rehkopf, Sepideh Modrek, Elizabeth Mokyr Horner, Benjamin Goldstein, and Mark R. Cullen were with the Division of General Medical Disciplines, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA. Ellen A. Eisen and Sadie Costello are with the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Linda F. Cantley and Martin D. Slade are with the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | - Linda F Cantley
- At the time of the study, David H. Rehkopf, Sepideh Modrek, Elizabeth Mokyr Horner, Benjamin Goldstein, and Mark R. Cullen were with the Division of General Medical Disciplines, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA. Ellen A. Eisen and Sadie Costello are with the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Linda F. Cantley and Martin D. Slade are with the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | - Martin D Slade
- At the time of the study, David H. Rehkopf, Sepideh Modrek, Elizabeth Mokyr Horner, Benjamin Goldstein, and Mark R. Cullen were with the Division of General Medical Disciplines, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA. Ellen A. Eisen and Sadie Costello are with the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Linda F. Cantley and Martin D. Slade are with the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | - Mark R Cullen
- At the time of the study, David H. Rehkopf, Sepideh Modrek, Elizabeth Mokyr Horner, Benjamin Goldstein, and Mark R. Cullen were with the Division of General Medical Disciplines, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA. Ellen A. Eisen and Sadie Costello are with the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Linda F. Cantley and Martin D. Slade are with the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT
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27
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Picciotto S, Peters A, Eisen EA. Hypothetical exposure limits for oil-based metalworking fluids and cardiovascular mortality in a cohort of autoworkers: structural accelerated failure time models in a public health framework. Am J Epidemiol 2015; 181:563-70. [PMID: 25816818 PMCID: PMC4388016 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwu484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 09/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Occupational exposure to aerosolized particles of oil-based metalworking fluid was recently linked to deaths from ischemic heart disease. The current recommended exposure limits might be insufficient. Studying cardiovascular mortality is challenging because symptoms can induce sicker workers to reduce their exposure, causing healthy-worker survivor bias. G-estimation of accelerated failure time models reduces this bias and permits comparison of multiple exposure interventions. Michigan autoworkers from the United AutoWorkers–General Motors cohort (n = 38,666) were followed from 1941 through 1994. Separate binary variables indicated whether annual exposure exceeded a series of potential limits. Separate g-estimation analyses for each limit yielded the total number of life-years that could have been saved among persons who died from specific cardiovascular causes by enforcing that exposure limit. Banning oil-based fluids would have saved an estimated 4,003 (95% confidence interval: 2,200, 5,807) life-years among those who died of ischemic heart disease. Estimates for cardiovascular disease overall, acute myocardial infarction, and cerebrovascular disease were 3,500 (95% confidence interval: 1,350, 5,651), 2,932 (95% confidence interval: 1,587, 4,277), and 917 (95% confidence interval: −80, 1,913) life-years, respectively. A limit of 0.01 mg/m3 would have had a similar impact on cerebrovascular disease but one only half as great on ischemic heart disease. Analyses suggest that limiting exposure to metalworking fluids could have saved many life-years lost to cardiovascular diseases in this cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Picciotto
- Correspondence to Dr. Sally Picciotto, Environmental Health Sciences, UC Berkeley School of Public Health, 50 University Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-7360 (e-mail: )
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Koponen IK, Koivisto AJ, Jensen KA. Worker Exposure and High Time-Resolution Analyses of Process-Related Submicrometre Particle Concentrations at Mixing Stations in Two Paint Factories. ANNALS OF OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE 2015; 59:749-63. [DOI: 10.1093/annhyg/mev014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Abdalla AME, Xiao L, Ouyang C, Yang G. Engineered nanoparticles: thrombotic events in cancer. NANOSCALE 2014; 6:14141-14152. [PMID: 25347245 DOI: 10.1039/c4nr04825c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Engineered nanoparticles are being increasingly produced for specific applications in medicine. Broad selections of nano-sized constructs have been developed for applications in diagnosis, imaging, and drug delivery. Nanoparticles as contrast agents enable conjugation with molecular markers which are essential for designing effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Such investigations can also lead to a better understanding of disease mechanisms such as cancer-associated thrombosis which remains unpredictable with serious bleeding complications and high risk of death. Here we review the recent and current applications of engineered nanoparticles in diagnosis and therapeutic strategies, noting their toxicity in relation to specific markers as a target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M E Abdalla
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
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Liu S, Noth EM, Dixon-Ernst C, Eisen EA, Cullen MR, Hammond SK. Particle Size Distribution in Aluminum Manufacturing Facilities. ENVIRONMENT AND POLLUTION (TORONTO, ONT.) 2014; 3:79-88. [PMID: 26478760 PMCID: PMC4607067 DOI: 10.5539/ep.v3n4p79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
As part of exposure assessment for an ongoing epidemiologic study of heart disease and fine particle exposures in aluminum industry, area particle samples were collected in production facilities to assess instrument reliability and particle size distribution at different process areas. Personal modular impactors (PMI) and Minimicro-orifice uniform deposition impactors (MiniMOUDI) were used. The coefficient of variation (CV) of co-located samples was used to evaluate the reproducibility of the samplers. PM2.5 measured by PMI was compared to PM2.5 calculated from MiniMOUDI data. Mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) and concentrations of sub-micrometer (PM1.0) and quasi-ultrafine (PM0.56) particles were evaluated to characterize particle size distribution. Most of CVs were less than 30%. The slope of the linear regression of PMI_PM2.5 versus MiniMOUDI_PM2.5 was 1.03 mg/m3 per mg/m3 (± 0.05), with correlation coefficient of 0.97 (± 0.01). Particle size distribution varied substantively in smelters, whereas it was less variable in fabrication units with significantly smaller MMADs (arithmetic mean of MMADs: 2.59 μm in smelters vs. 1.31 μm in fabrication units, p = 0.001). Although the total particle concentration was more than two times higher in the smelters than in the fabrication units, the fraction of PM10 which was PM1.0 or PM0.56 was significantly lower in the smelters than in the fabrication units (p < 0.001). Consequently, the concentrations of sub-micrometer and quasi-ultrafine particles were similar in these two types of facilities. It would appear, studies evaluating ultrafine particle exposure in aluminum industry should focus on not only the smelters, but also the fabrication facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sa Liu
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Noth
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Ellen A Eisen
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Mark R Cullen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - S Katharine Hammond
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
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31
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Neophytou AM, Costello S, Brown DM, Picciotto S, Noth EM, Hammond SK, Cullen MR, Eisen EA. Marginal structural models in occupational epidemiology: application in a study of ischemic heart disease incidence and PM2.5 in the US aluminum industry. Am J Epidemiol 2014; 180:608-15. [PMID: 25125691 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwu175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Marginal structural models (MSMs) and inverse probability weighting can be used to estimate risk in a cohort of active workers if there is a time-varying confounder (e.g., health status) affected by prior exposure-a feature of the healthy worker survivor effect. We applied Cox MSMs in a study of incident ischemic heart disease and exposure to particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) in a cohort of 12,949 actively employed aluminum workers in the United States. The cohort was stratified by work process into workers in smelting facilities, herein referred to as "smelters" and workers in fabrication facilities, herein referred to as "fabricators." The outcome was assessed by using medical claims data from 1998 to 2012. A composite risk score based on insurance claims was treated as a time-varying measure of health status. Binary PM2.5 exposure was defined by the 10th-percentile cutoff for each work process. Health status was associated with past exposure and predicted the outcome and subsequent exposure in smelters but not in fabricators. In smelters, the Cox MSM hazard ratio comparing those always exposed above the cutoff with those always exposed below the cutoff was 1.98 (95% confidence interval: 1.18, 3.32). In fabricators, the hazard ratio from a traditional Cox model was 1.34 (95% confidence interval: 0.98, 1.83). Results suggest that occupational PM2.5 exposure increases the risk of incident ischemic heart disease in workers in both aluminum smelting and fabrication facilities.
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